More InfoScotland sites:

The Planet

Tue, Mar 16, 2010

Gifts that won't cost the earth

If you still have Christmas shopping to do and are dreading the thought of facing the crowds, with a little thought you can come up with gifts which will earn you big brownie points and help save the planet too.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

  • Make a mix CD. Add a touch of your own personality to a gift by making up a CD filled with songs that mean something to you. Just be careful that your track list will appeal to the recipient – hip hop hits for your sister, not your dad…
  • Bake your own Christmas treats. A home-made chocolate or mince pie can seem like a much more thoughtful and personal gift than something bought from a shop. And you can help them enjoy it.
  • Left it too late to send Christmas cards? Avoid wasting paper by sending an e-card instead.
  • Instead of using conventional wrapping paper, cover your present in a colourful page taken from a magazine, which you can personalise for each family member or friend – High School Musical stars for the kids and Angelina Jolie from your Hello magazine for your brother.

There are so many ways you can have a fun festive time this Christmas and avoid excess waste. For some more ideas on keeping things creative and fun why not replace conventional wrapping paper with Japanese furoshiki cloth or buy a gift made from recycled materials? Take a look at Recycle Now to find out more.